HRM

Heat Pipe Energy Recovery Modules

Installation, Operation & Maintenance

Publication: SC151101
Revision: 11/01/2015
 Table of Contents
Safety Instructions ................................................................................................................ 2
Product Nomenclature.......................................................................................................... 2
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 2
Responsibilities .................................................................................................................... 3
Unpacking ............................................................................................................................ 3
Installation ............................................................................................................................ 4
Optional Equipment .............................................................................................................. 5
Operation ............................................................................................................................. 7
System Performance ............................................................................................................ 7
Maintenance ......................................................................................................................... 9
Heat Recovery Heat Pipes HRM Performance Check List ................................................. 10
Five-Year Limited Warranty ................................................................................................ 11
Warranty Registration......................................................................................................... 12
Appendix 1: Product Nomenclature .................................................................................... 13
Appendix 2: Fastening Instructions .................................................................................... 14
Appendix 3: Flashing Instructions ...................................................................................... 15

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Safety Instructions
Warning
The heat pipe heat exchanger must be level when lifted and moved. The Heat Pipe
contains liquid and tilting the heat pipe will cause the center of gravity to shift to one side
creating an imbalance. Also, the heat Pipe could weigh hundreds of pounds which may lead
to serious injury should the heat pipe fall over.
Caution
The heat pipe heat exchanger contains liquid and vapor under high pressure. Do not
drill into or puncture the heat pipe tubes as doing so will release the contents from a high
pressure. Refer to Appendix 2 for guidance or where to drill or attach screws, as needed.
Do not touch the fins. The fins are sharp and may easily cut through skin.
The heat pipe must be adequately supported in the installed position. Inadequate
support strength may cause the support structure to fail under the weight of the heat pipes,
possibly causing damage and injury

Product Nomenclature
Please refer to Appendix 1 of this manual for product nomenclature for Heat Recovery
Module (HRM)

Introduction
The HPT Heat Recovery Module (HRM) is a heat exchange system for moving heat from
one air stream to another to recover heat in winter or remove heat in the summer for either
comfort or process applications. Refrigerant passively travels back and forth from the supply
air end to the exhaust air end where it changes phase from a liquid to a gas and back to a
liquid, as long as there is a temperature difference between those two airstreams.
Each heat exchanger is
constructed of multiple
circuits, individually
charged for maximum heat
transfer and reliability. The
HRM can be ordered with
multiple rows to suit design
requirements. Most
systems fall between six
and eight rows.

Fig 1 - HRM Showing Air Stream Separation

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Construction is of copper tube and either aluminum or copper fins. They are encased on top,
bottom and ends with heavy gauge galvanized or stainless sheet metal. Copper tubes are
mechanically expanded into the fins for maximum heat transfer.
A divider section is added to separate the air streams, which will also provide structural
support. This separation comprises two center sheet metal pieces either back to back, or
separated. This area is finless. Optional foam fill can be applied to the area reducing the
chance of any cross contamination to a minimum. There may also be other structural
supports along the finned length of the heat exchanger. For best performance, one air stream
must be counter to the other. Inside an air handler, the HRM is placed through an opening in
the wall separating two halves of the air handler. One half would be in the path of supply air
and the other side would be in the path of leaving exhaust air.

Responsibilities
The heat pipes can arrive at the site either as a module or pre-installed in an air handler. It
is the responsibility of the receiving party to install the heat pipe system correctly. The
installing party shall provide all the material and labor according to HPT’s instructions.

Unpacking
The heat pipes are thoroughly inspected prior to leaving the factory. Upon arrival, the heat
pipes should be unpacked and inspected for visible and concealed damage as soon as
possible. Lifting brackets are installed on top of each HRM for ease of movement and
installation. The coils should only be lifted using these brackets. The brackets are removed
after they are no longer needed.
If damage is found, it is the
responsibility of the receiving
party to file a claim with the
freight carrier. HPT can help with
paperwork.
The HRM will be shipped with
two or more lifting brackets on
top for rigging-see Fig. 2. Ensure
you have the proper equipment
to handle the weight of the HRM.
Never lift the HRM by its center
only; both sides must be
supported- See Fig 3.
Fig 2-Lifting Bracket

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On occasion web slings are provided by HPT in lieu of lifting brackets. Every effort is made
to install slings correctly before shipping, but it is the riggers responsibility to check for safety
before lifting.
The HRM circuits will be fully charged with a working fluid and should be handled carefully.
Before setting in place, it is strongly recommended that the HRM is inspected once again for
visible damage or sources of possible leaks. Repairs, if needed, should be made while it is
still easily accessible. For Summer Winter operation, the heat pipe system must be installed
level end to end to ±1/8”.

Fig 3-Using lifting brackets to hoist the heat pipe heat exchanger

Installation
When installing the HRM in an air handler or ductwork, there are several considerations to
be taken into account:
 A drain pan similar to the one in Appendix 3 is required (not provided by HPT). It will
need to fit wall to wall on the bottom of the duct.
 The bottom of the pan should be insulated. If the duct is to be internally insulated, the
duct should be made big enough so the HRM will fit inside the insulation.
 The condensate outlet needs to be high enough above the floor so that a trap can be
made in the line to ensure proper flow of the condensate. Depending on application
and geography, the HRM will condense moisture on the exhaust side in winter heat
recovery mode, and on the supply side in summer cooling recovery mode.

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A transition from the duct size to the flange size should be fabricated so that turbulence will
not cause uneven air flow through the coil. The slope of the transition should be no more
than 45 degrees. The area between the two ducts and in the drain pan at the divider should
also be sealed to prevent air from flowing from one air stream to the other.

Fig 4- HRM Installed in Ductwork

Fastening Instructions:
Whether installed inside an air handlers or ductwork, HRMs need to be supported by
attaching them to other structures. It is paramount that HPT fastening instructions are
carefully read and followed. Otherwise tube punctures may result in losing multiple heat pipe
circuits. Please refer to Appendix 2 of this document for details on fastening instructions.
Flashing Instructions
To get the maximum performance out of the heat pipe heat exchanger, air must go through
the supply and exhaust side of the HRM only. After installing in place, provisions to be made
to flash around the heat exchanger to stop any potential air leaks or bypasses. Refer to
Appendix 3 of this document for full details.

Optional Equipment
An optional bypass damper/actuator assembly on the supply end is used for control of the
heat transfer. Opening the damper will bypass air around the supply side of the coil, thus

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reducing the overall performance of the heat pipe. Although available from HPT, it is often
supplied and installed by air handler manufacturers. Refer to submittal data for details if
provided by HPT, or click on the links below to go directly to www.heatpipe.com/IOM for
Damper, Actuator and Actuator Mount detail.

Fig 5-HRM with Factory Installed Bypass Damper

Modulating System Performance

There will be times when the heat pipe performance needs to be modulated to take
advantage of favorable weather conditions, or to prevent frosting on the exhaust side at
extreme cold conditions. A bypass damper assembly can be added to the supply side of the
HRM. The damper actuator must be controlled by the building Automation System (BAS).
The BAS can monitor the temperatures entering and leaving the HRM through temperature
sensors (supplied and installed by others) and determine when to start opening the bypass
damper. To shut off the heat pipe system performance, a face damper needs to be installed
(not supplied by HPT), to act in unison with the face damper

AIR Filters
Air filters should be installed upstream of both supply and exhaust sections. Filters need to
be changed on a regular basis to maintain the integrity of the heat pipe. The design engineer
shall select the proper efficiency of the air filter to match the application.

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Operation
Control Strategy
The design engineer for the system is responsible for providing the set points for operation.

Refrigerant Circulation
For a level HRM, the system transfers heat from the warmer to the cooler end in either
direction. Seasonal changeover happens automatically. Generally, the higher the
temperature differential between entering air streams, the higher the heat pipe performance.
Bypassing the air around one section of the HRM reduces the amount of airflow through that
end of the heat pipe thereby reducing the heat that will be absorbed and transferred to the
opposite side. As such, operation of heat pipes is automatic. The heat pipes are made to be
leak resistant and will give many years of trouble-free operation.

Defrost
Whenever supply air conditions are extremely cold, usually below zero degrees Fahrenheit,
enough heat will be removed from the exhaust section to cause this side to start building
frost. If the frost is not prevented, it will build to the point of blocking the exhaust air flow. This
is most prevalent when there are six or more rows in the HRM and usually under ambient
conditions below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Opening the outside air bypass damper will
reduce the heat transfer to a rate that will not cause frost to form while still transferring as
much heat as possible. By monitoring the leaving air temperature from the exhaust heat
recovery module, frost can be prevented. As the leaving air temperature drops below 36 deg
F, the damper should modulate and be fully open at 35 deg F. For example, a 6-row HRM
with typical airflow of 500 FPM and 68 deg F exhaust temperature, the coil may not frost until:
6 rows -2 deg F
4 rows -20 deg F
2 rows <-50 deg F

System Performance
Periodic checks of the system performance (or Effectiveness) based on BAS readings is an
effective method of checking whether the system is operating properly. Trend data should be
kept so that spot checks of the effectiveness can be made while the temperatures are at the
most extreme. If any problems arise with the heat pipes, a drop in effectiveness will be the
first indication.

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Effectiveness
The effectiveness of the Heat Pipe system expressed in a percent is the ratio of the amount
of heat transferred to the amount of heat available.
𝐶𝐹𝑀𝑠𝑎 T2 − T1
For the HRM with any amount of rows: 𝐸𝑓𝑓 % = ×
𝐶𝐹𝑀𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑇3 − 𝑇1
Example:
T1: Supply Air Entering Temp = 10F
T2: Supply Sir Leaving Temp = 40F
T2
T3: Exhaust Air Entering Temp = 70F
T4: Exhaust Air Leaving Temp = 40F
T3
T1
CFMsa: Supply Airflow
CFMmin: Minimum (Supply or Exhaust Airflow)
T4

𝐶𝐹𝑀𝑠𝑎 T2 − T1
Supply 𝐸𝑓𝑓 % = ×
𝐶𝐹𝑀𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑇3 − 𝑇1

40 − 10
Supply𝐸𝑓𝑓 % = 1 × = 50%
70 − 10

Above example assumes equal airflows on the supply and exhaust side and no
condensation on either side.
The predicted effectiveness is calculated for the system based on the engineer’s specs prior
to the installation of the system. Several factors go into the calculation, and if these factors
change, the expected effectiveness can change. Construction variables such as difference
in coil dimensions between supply and exhaust will affect the calculated effectiveness.
Unequal airflows between the supply and the exhaust will also impact the effectiveness.
System Check
The heat transfer must balance. BTUH in one side must equal BTUH out of the other side. If
the airflow through the supply end is the same as the airflow through the exhaust end, then
the temperature change across each side must be the same (unless condensation occurs on
either side). However, if there is more air through the supply end than the exhaust end, which
is common with fresh air systems, then the temperature change across the supply end, and
the related effectiveness, will be lower than that across the exhaust end. It is a good practice
to measure the total heat transfer across each Heat Pipe section to ensure accurate
measurement. If BTUH for one side: BTUH=(1.05)(T)(CFM) equals BTUH for the other side
and no condensation is taking place, and no air leaks, then the measurement variables can
be considered accurate.

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Maintenance
Since heat pipes are passive devices, very little maintenance is required. However, the
following is recommended to guarantee full performance and maximum benefits from the
heat pipes for the life of the product:
 The heat pipes are sealed and should be leak free for the life of the equipment; however,
they should be checked for leaks annually, during a shutdown, with a Halide Leak
Detector. The most likely place for a leak to occur is at each end of the heat pipe. The
ends should be checked by inserting the detector into the sheet metal covers at each
end. Any build up inside the cover will cause the detector to alarm. Check for leaks at
the face with a dragging motion. Since the HRMs comprise multiple circuits, although
rare, a single leak will not have an appreciable impact on performance.
Leak repairs are done with factory authorization and instruction.
 Check the Damper assembly in accordance with manufacturer’s literature (if supplied)
to insure proper operation.
 Change filters regularly on a time schedule or more often as their loading indicates.
 Annually clean the heat pipes or as often as the situation calls for cleaning. This will
insure proper airflow.
Debris stuck on the intake side can be removed by blowing air or low pressure water in
the reverse direction.
Heat pipes can be cleaned with ordinary dishwasher detergent and hot water or any
commercial coil cleaner. Caution should be used so that the fins are not damaged. Any
damage to the fins should be straightened out using appropriate fin combs. Do not use
Alkaline-based cleaning agents on aluminum fins. Corrosion may result adversely
affecting the integrity and performance of the system.
 Check and clean condensate drain pan to ensure proper drainage.
 Check the performance of the Heat Pipe annually. Perform the tests during the same
period each year and under similar temperature conditions. Repeat the tests at different
locations on the unit face. Keep a record of all readings for comparison.
Parameters to measure
T1: Supply air entering
T2: Supply air leaving
T3: Exhaust air entering
T4: Exhaust air leaving
Supply air CFM and Exhaust air CFM

Above readings are to be taken at multiple locations in a grid-like fashion approximately

6” away from the fins, then averaged out. If averaging sensors are used for temperature
measurement, then record those readings.

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Heat Recovery Heat Pipes HRM Performance Check List
The form below is to be filled out and sent to HPT for the purpose of trouble shooting heat
pipe performance. Guidelines above to be used for measurement.

Company: ___________________________________
T2
Phone: (____) _______________________________
Project Identification: __________________________ T3
T1
Model #: ____________________________________
Serial #: ____________________________________ T4

Date Installed:________________________________
Test Performed By: ______________ Date: _______________________

Test Summer / Cooling Winter / Heating

Temp. Temp.
Temp. Press. Temp. Press.
°F WB CFM °F WB CFM
°F DB in. w.g. °F DB In. w.g.
or RH Or RH
Entering Air @ 1 *

Leaving Air @ 2 *

Entering Air @ 3 *
Air Side

Leaving Air @ 4 *

SUPPLY EXHAUST
HRM Dimensions
Finned area only
Finned H ____ " Finned L _______” Finned H ____ " Finned L _______”

* If averaging sensors are installed in the system, record temperatures from BAS. Otherwise
take multiple measurements across the module in each section and average the readings.
Check to make sure the heat exchanger is level end to end to within ±1/8”.

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 Energy Recovery Heat Pipes (Module Only)
Five-Year Limited Warranty
Subject to the following conditions, Heat Pipe Technology, Inc. (HPT), warrants this product to be free from defects in
material and workmanship for a period of FIVE YEARS for the heat exchanger only from the date of installation not to
exceed 90 days from date of shipment. Dampers and HPT provided controls carry a 12 month warranty. This warranty is
in lieu of all other warrants not expressly set forth herein, whether expressed or implied by operation of law or otherwise. In
the event this product fails under normal use and service within the applicable period, HPT will correct, repair or, at its sole
discretion, replace the defective product or refund the purchase price of products which are returned freight prepaid to HPT
for inspection, when accompanied by proof of purchase and written claims of defect, and which upon inspection by HPT,
do comply with the terms of this warranty.
This warranty applies to the first retail buyer and extends to any subsequent owners of the systems.
The cost of replacement parts or components shall be determined by the price schedule in effect at the time of submission
of warranty claim.
Repair or replacement parts will be furnished F.O.B. factory in all cases.
If HPT elects to replace or provide a refund, the defective product must be returned to HPT free and clear of liens or other
encumbrances.

Limitations on Liability
This warranty does not cover and no warranty is made with respect to:
A. Failures not reported to HPT within the period specified above;
B. Failures or damage due to misapplication, misuse, abuse, improper storage or handling, abnormal conditions of
temperature, water, dirt, corrosive substances or other contaminants;
C. Products which have been repaired with parts or materials not furnished or approved by HPT or by its authorized
dealers or representatives, or products which have been in any way tampered with or altered;
D. Products damaged in shipment or storage or otherwise without fault of HPT;
E. Normal maintenance as outlined in the installation and servicing instructions or owner’s manual including coil cleaning,
filter cleaning and periodic flushing of systems;
F. Damage or repairs required as a consequence of faulty installation or application by others;
G. Damage or repairs required as a consequence of any misapplication, abuse, improper servicing, unauthorized
alteration or improper operation;
H. Damage as a result of floods, winds, fires, lightning, accidents, corrosive atmosphere or other conditions beyond the
control of HPT;
I. Damage resulting from freezing of domestic water or condensate, inadequate or interrupted water supply, use of
corrosive water, fouling or restriction of the water circuit by foreign material or like causes;
J. Damage resulting from operation with an inadequate supply of air or water;
K. Dampers or other mechanical options.
HPT total responsibility for any claims, damages, losses or liabilities related to the product covered hereunder shall not
exceed the purchase price of such product. In no event shall HPT be liable for any special, indirect, incidental or
consequential damages of any character, including but not limited to loss of use of productive facilities or equipment, lost
profits, property damage, transportation, installation or removal, lost production, or personal injury whether suffered by
Purchaser or any third party. HPT disclaims all liability for any and all costs, claims, demands, charges, expenses or other
damages, either direct or indirect, incident to personal injury or property damage arising out of any cause of action based
on strict liability.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages or limitations on how long an
implied warranty lasts, so the exclusion or limitation above of consequential damages or the limitation of time above on
implied warranties may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may have other rights which may vary from state to state.

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 Energy Recovery Heat Pipes (Module Only)
Warranty Registration
To insure your warranty protection, please fill in the Warranty Registration Form and mail,
or e-mail it to:
Heat Pipe Technology, Inc.
6904 Parke East Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33610
heatpipe@heatpipe.com

WARRANY REGISTRATION FORM

Customer Name:

Customer Address:

Phone: ( ) - Fax: ( ) -

Serial No: Model No:

Type of Product:
Date of Installation: Contractor/Installer:

Customer Signature:

HPT reserves the right to change product design and specification without notice
For more info on this and other HPT products, please visit:

www.heatpipe.com

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Appendix 1: Product Nomenclature

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Appendix 2: Fastening Instructions

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Appendix 3: Flashing Instructions

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